The Hannya Mask

[warandpeace]

Who: Event Post | Open
When: Dec. 5th - 15th
Where: Around Avagi
What: A demon is haunting the station, spurred on by emotional responses. More information can be found here.
Warnings: Violence, possible death, body horror, etc.

THE HAUNTING

The onryō starts making her first patrols in the early morning when most people are comfortably asleep and not wanting to wake up. The sense of unease she creates is palpable, and initially she just looks at who is around. She chooses in the dark who she should be angry with, who is a foolish idiot for making her mistakes and who is an ignorant soul who ignored the anguish of someone else's attention. Everyone else is unimportant.

Occasionally, rarely though, she'll stop and look at something. Usually carved or drawn or molded, something someone used their hands to create. The very faintest of scraps of who she used to be, though that's barely significant. There's not enough left of that self to deter her from stopping more of the foolishness that damned her.

The Noh mask appears the same day, the same time as her first investigations get underway, and there it remains, conveniently close to where the Ingress once was.

The mask will always return to this original state the moment it's not being observed. It'll be returned to its resting place. If it's been destroyed or altered or damaged in any way, it'll be back to the state that it was when previously examined (even permanent marker would disappear).

It's made of cypress wood and is covered in layers of chalk paint and a glue-like sealant. On the back is a raised signature, indicating that it was handmade by an artisan. On closer examination (like swabbing or enhanced senses or super scanner) there's a bit of smoke damage, but otherwise it's not been worn many times. The straps attached are hardly frayed at all. However it's aged, it's not from scuffing or rough handling.

There might not be much time to notice or to bother with it, though. Not when people are being hunted in the shadows, when quick hands reach out from cabinets or a hunched form hangs upside down from underneath a table, waiting for someone to sit down too close to her.

Comments

[aka_pistachio]

[ She still doesn't remember much about what happened the last time the demon got her, but she remembers it dragging her from the ankles, really fast, into something dark and cold. She shrieks when she's grabbed and moved but when she opens her eyes she's still standing. But in the greenery.

She feels sick to her stomach. Like carsick, which is nuts. She hasn't gotten carsick in years. There's a soft breeze and Pino and Peter are there. She starts to shake, still not quite breathing and pretty sure she's about to puke. ]

What just happened.

[quickfingers]

Sorry - that uh, happens. [He makes an apologetic face, tentatively reaching out to touch her but thinking better of it and just grazing his fingers over her elbow instead. Giving her space to breathe in is important so he sucks in a breath and looks around, sticking his hands in his pockets.]

I made an executive order to like, toast and get outta there. I told you I was fast, right? Sometimes it makes people sick, but it'll pass. [He was careful not to jar her around, too, on account of her injuries.]

Gave that creepy bitch the finger when getting out of there, tho.

[aka_pistachio]

[ Peter touches her elbow and Kelly Ann chokes on a sob. She covers her mouth with her hand, struggling to regain her composure. ]

Yeah you said I just didn't... I didn't realize you could move other people fast, too.

[ She tries to take a deep breath and it hitches. ]

Thanks. I'm sorry I'm so fucking useless.

[ She covers her face with both hands and sobs through clenched teeth. Pino skitters away, startled by the sound. ]

[quickfingers]

No, no... it's okay. [Peter's voice softens and he doesn't let go of her arm, much rather he gently reaches out with his other hand to tug her closer. He's not going to pull her into a hug if it's not something she's into, but it's an automatic reaction from growing up with two younger sisters that just clicks into play at that first hitching breath that spikes his concern.

He leans down a bit, trying to peer past her fingers and catch her eye.] That was freaky and it's okay to feel freaked out because of it, but you're safe, okay? That thing, whatever it is? It's gone. We're safe here.

[aka_pistachio]

[ She leans against him, her forehead resting on his chest as she starts to cry. It's all so much. Stuck in space with a bunch of strangers was bad enough but now some psycho demon thing kept attacking her. ]

Are we? I mean... Am I? [ She chokes out. ] God this sucks. It's not my fault that mask maker had an unrequited crush or whatever the fuck this stupid thing is so mad about.

[quickfingers]

Yeah, you are. [He confirms, knowing there's no real way for him to say it with certainty yet he does - if only to try and help quell her fears. He wraps his arms around her gently, smoothing his hand over her hair and dropping one arm to rub a reassuring circle against her lower back.]

Yeah, it's not your fault - whatever's going on is just fucked up shit you happen to be in the middle of, and it's not fair to you. But you're not alone, 'kay? I'm here, other people're here and we'll make sure you're safe.

[aka_pistachio]

[ It's really nice to be held like this. She wants to just stay like that. Feeling safe and cared for.

But it's not his job. Or anybody else's. She needs to take care of herself. She needs to get a hold of herself, too. This is embarrassing. She tries to take a deep breath, fails, and then succeeds on the second try. She extricates herself from his arms and wipes her eyes and then her nose on her sleeve. ]

Yeah. This thing is fucking with everybody. I'll just try to keep my head down until the people who can actually do something useful go ahead and do it.

[quickfingers]

[Peter loosens his grip on her and lets her draw away, returning his arms to his sides as he gives her some space. This is a pretty shitty situation all around and while a lot more could be said on it, he doesn't want to dreg up any more shitty feelings- she deserves a boost instead. He's usually pretty decent at cracking a shitty joke, but now he draws a blank.]

Just remember there are people here, 'kay? [Like him, awkward and uncertain of what kind of help he'd be.]

And places to go, no matter what. Like, this? [He gestures around to the Greenery; the overall feeling of it, it just reminds him of the life on Kaittos a bit. Something alive, not quite as sterile as the rest of Avagi.] Pretty cool place to hang out. Actual grass to lay on. Just like home... only not really at all like home, but y'feel me?

[aka_pistachio]

I know. [ Her breath hitches. He's been so great and she's just throwing it back in his face. ] I'm sorry.

[ She looks around the greenery. She's been in here before, but hadn't really looked at it the way Peter does. She sniffles again and wipes her nose. ]

It's not really like my home. [ She says quietly. ] Not much grass. It's real hard to keep a lawn in L.A. and the grass that's there is like, short and hard and spiky. Lots of palm trees, though. And skate parks. Used to spend a lot of time there.

[quickfingers]

Fuck yeah skate parks. [Peter flashes a wider smile, hopping onto a subject he can relate to. He nods over towards a patch of grass, where he'll plop down and try to draw Pino back over to them by wiggling his shoe and its loose lace. It works, the little dino gnawing at the aglet as Peter snorts.]

Did you skate or just chill there? I used to have a couple boards.

[aka_pistachio]

[ Kelly Ann sits cross-legged next to him. She wants to make herself as small as possible, and sits very close to Peter. She's still shaky after the close call. And the actual attack from earlier. She has an impulse to crawl into his lap but can't even bring herself to actually touch him. It's just too... demanding. She looks at her hands and kind of smiles. His interest is nice. ]

I actually skated. Skate. I still do. One of my foster brothers like, forgot his board and I ended up with it and that's how I learned. There's no good places to skate here, though.

[quickfingers]

Psh, but if we get some boards - the next alien planet is grindsville. [He smiles.]

Probably wouldn't be too hard to make some, they won't be the best but what better stuff do we have to do around here? Man, I had so many back home too that are just going to waste without me there.

[aka_pistachio]

Hey, I have mine. I was carrying it when I got teleported here. [ She sticks out her tongue. ] If you're real nice I might let you borrow it. Or maybe we can use it to make one for you, I dunno.

I only ever had one at a time but the one I have with me is real good. I got it after I signed up with the tour so I actually had some money for it.

[quickfingers]

No shit? That's fucking awesome. We have got to find somewhere in here to ride that thing. [He's excited, hell yeah.]

Know any tricks?

[aka_pistachio]

Uh, I didn't say you could use it. [ She grins. ]

Mostly I just use it to get around when we're setting up for a gig because it's faster than walking. But I can do some tricks. I'm not like, fucking Tony Hawk or some shit but I can do like, an ollie, reverse ollie, kick flip, heel flip, pop shuvit, grind. Like the basic shit. It looks cool, though.

[quickfingers]

Cold. So cold. [He laughs, feigning a hurt look.]

If I can't touch the board I hope I can just smoke sideline and cheer you on as you give me some cool demos? Also like, obligatory "Tony who" commentary - but my dated ass is assuming he's someone cool, like Russ Howell or Ty Page. He was the one who came up with the shuvit, but like. Who the fuck's gonna call it a "Ty Hop" for very long, right?

[aka_pistachio]

[ She laughs at the thought. ] Let's build a half-pipe in the gym so I can show off. I'm sure that won't cause any problems.

Oh, shit, yeah. Tony Hawk is like, the most famous skater of all time. He basically invented the X Games and they've made like ten videogames about him. He went pro when he was like, 14 and he's retired now. He was the first person to do a 900 and the first person to skateboard in the White House and the first person to be inducted into the skateboarding hall of fame.

If you pay attention to skateboarding at all you'll start hearing about him pretty soon, I think.

[quickfingers]

Shit, that's badass. [Peter's immediately intrigued, especially since there are video games about him?

Mixing his fave interests together, this is sweet.] Ain't that the life, though? Doing what you love for a living?

[aka_pistachio]

[ She grins. ] Yeah he just like, completely revolutionized the entire sport. He's a pretty cool guy. Couldn't get skateboarding into the Olympics but snowboarding is.

[ She goes quiet a moment. ]

I dunno. Sometimes it seems like the best idea in the world. But then sometimes when you're too close to something. Like too caught up in the whole... sausage making. It's hard to really love it the way you used to, you know?

[quickfingers]

Yeah? I guess you have to find a balance... [He doesn't know what it's like either way, but he gives it thought.]

I am stiiill kind of looking for the thing I'm good at, never mind a job that encompasses it. [He laughs, like it's funny - he's allowed.]

[aka_pistachio]

[ "Balance"? Sounds fake but ok. ]

Yeah, or just find the next thing to leap into and obsess over.

[ She sighs and leans her head on his shoulder. She's injured, she's allowed. ]

You're good at a lot of things.

[quickfingers]

[Peter laughs again, this time a touch sheepish as he waves his hand in the air. Sharing his shoulder is accepted, and he would've wrapped his arm around her again but doesn't want to jar her injuries any. So he instead he rests his head lightly against hers, speaking out of the corner of his mouth with exaggerated skepticism:]

Oh yeah? Not to put you on the spot, but can you back up that claim with examples?

[...] Besides stealing. I know I'm pretty good at that but it's not a celebrated career choice.

[aka_pistachio]

Yes. [ She lifts her head and sticks her tongue out at him before returning to her previous position. ] But they're not all going to be like, career-track shit. I'm not your guidance counselor.

And we're not going to ignore the stealing shit because you busted a convicted presidential assassin out of the secret jail in the basement of the Pentagon which is the most insane thing I've ever heard.

But you don't use those skills to do like, bank robberies and jewel heists and shit. You help out your mom. That whole Pentagon thing you did just because some guys you didn't even know asked you for help.

You give away every good thing you have because you're chronically generous. You love Pino even though he bites you all the time. He's drawn blood, more than once, and you've never lost your temper at him. You try to act like a slacker but you are always helping somebody do something or taking care of somebody.

You just saved me from a demon that probably was going to kill me.

So. Yeah. You're good at shit just deal with it.

[quickfingers]

[Peter has a thing. A thing where he does do a lot of shit to no benefit of himself (when not doing shit to full benefit of himself,) because he likes the feeling of knowing he can do something. His mutation is the one unique aspect of him he's got a lot of pride in, even though it's hard to share with other people. He feels a lot of the other aspects of him are boring or lackluster in comparison, so when someone recognizes him for something it's most often for something pertaining to his speed.

Not... his character? He flicks his eyes to Kelly Ann, caught between a smile and a shrug and almost a bit awkward for a moment because he doesn't know how to take what she's saying in. He's not used to it. He sheepishly ends up ruffling his hand through his hair and looking side-long at a weird funky little plant.]

Oi. Okay, okay. I'm not completely useless, then.

[aka_pistachio]

[ She still has her head on his shoulder, and is looking ahead and so misses his glance. ]

You're a fucking terrible baker. So don't get all bigheaded or anything.